Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi became prime minister of Japan on April 24, 2001. The 61-year-old leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was first elected to the Diet in 1972. He is a third-generation politician who has served in the cabinets of four previous administrations. The following is excerpted from a statement from Prime Minister Koizumi on the Diet’s approval, on July 26, 2003, of sending Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq. Today the Law Concerning the Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq was established. This law provides a structure through which Japan can make an appropriate contribution to assist…
